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55 of 61 found the following review helpful:
 One of the greatest books I've read Jun 08, 1999
Woolf portrays the fascinations of self-discovery through relationships with other people, and she also looks into the intricacies of love--are we aware of love? What is the importance of love in a person's life? Does one need it to be happy? Taking a peek into the answers of these questions along with adding delightful humor that made me laugh out loud made this book terrific. The characters are interesting and you can choose for yourself whether or not you like them. I would definitely recommend this book--its many levels are enjoyable for all ages and both sexes!
46 of 51 found the following review helpful:
 Great book Dec 23, 1999
Virginia Woolf does such a wonderful job of revealing the many facets of an individual. In this book, she applies that task to couples in love. It is a marvel that she not only identifies the many nuances of a glance, a word, a movement, but that she also conveys them to the reader in a perfect sentence. This book, unlike some of her others, seems written to appeal to a broader audience. It is "easier" than some of her other fiction, but is by no means a bore for Woolf fans.
35 of 38 found the following review helpful:
Great writing Oct 24, 2003
As in the other Virginia Woolf books I have read, what strikes me first and foremost is the wonderful writing. The descriptions are phenomenal, starting with the surroundings and continuing with the character's facial expressions. Some of the passages are pure poetry and the characters are beautifully and consistently drawn out. Oddly, although we know that Katharine is beautiful, we do not get a description of her, or of any other person in the story, with the exception of William Rodney. Woolf became a little heavy when it went into the minds of the characters who are in crises, but as one reaches the end of the book, all is forgiven. An excellent read!
46 of 54 found the following review helpful:
 RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "PARKER NEEDS TO GET RID OF JENN... OR READERS NEED TO LOWER THEIR STANDARDS" Mar 09, 2009
By Rick Shaq Goldstein
"*SHAQ*"
This is the eighth installment in the "Jesse Stone" novel series and the reader can't even get past the first paragraph without the author referencing Jesse's bothersome (to readers) ex-wife Jenn. Fans of the previous "Jesse Stone" novels have long since pulled their hair out with Jesse's on going on-and-off relationship with the unfaithful... sleeps with whoever can benefit her career at the moment... Jenn. Even with Jesse's own character deficiencies... no one in even half their right mind would believe that such a righteous... logical... beacon... of small town law enforcement... like Jesse... would put up with Jenn's treatment. This Stone episode has multiple plots, ranging from a school principal who makes thirteen-year-old female students line up in a room so she can lift their dresses up to check their underwear before a school dance... to a Peeping Tom... who dubs himself... "The Night Hawk"... whose voyeuristic peccadillos... are escalating to the point that Jesse is afraid where they may lead to... and to a local wife-swapping-club that is affecting the well being of two children.
For loyal Jesse Stone fans... the endangered children... allows Jesse to once again show that despite his minimalistic dialogue... that a big caring heart... beats within. In addition to all these criminal activities that Jesse must deal with simultaneously... Jenn moves to New York for a TV opportunity... and lo-and-behold... she moves in with the TV producer. As a by-product of all these concurrent issues... the reader gets to spend many nights with Jesse in his home... meticulously mixing his scotch... sharing intimate conversations with the poster on his wall of his baseball idol... Hall Of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith... and of course... there is endless gazing out of his French doors... to the sounds and views in the harbor.
Parker threads the story with many of his characters that loyal Spenser/Randall readers have become acquainted with over the years... Rita Fiore... Sunny Randall... and the mentioning of the one and only... Susan Silverman... who luckily is only mentioned... and not involved in her normal "baby-bunny-like-nibbling-on-a-piece-of-lettuce". Price conscious potential readers may want to wait till the paperback is released or go to the library, since there really is not that much to actually read. Though the book is two-hundred-eighty-nine pages long, most of the seventy-four-chapters are four pages... and the last page is almost always 1/3 to 2/3's blank... and the first page of each chapter is ½ blank... and most of the sentences in the book are extremely short.
Here is an example of SEVENTEEN "full" lines of writing:
"And his wife," Jesse said.
"yeah, and me, for crissakes."
"Insufferable," Jesse said.
"Doesn't it make you mad?"
"I was thinking about other stuff," Jesse said.
"Like what?"
"What do you think of her story?"
Molly paused in mid-anger.
"Her story," she said.
"Yep."
Molly sat back a little and thought about it.
"He hit her," Molly said.
Jesse nodded.
"He fondled her," Molly said.
"Uh-huh."
"And"--Molly began to speak fast--"he tied her up."
"Uh-huh."
This is really a short story with probably one-hundred-twenty-five pages of complete writing. It's an enjoyable little tale (minus Jenn) that gets the reader in and out quickly. It may not get you through a one-way cross country flight.
30 of 36 found the following review helpful:
Parker delivers a solid story Feb 25, 2009
By BrianB
This was just the type of detective story I was looking for, although I didn't realize that until I found it. I was hooked on this novel after the first chapter. The action starts right away, and I read the whole book in a few hours. Although it isn't quite an action packed thriller, it held my interest to the last page.
Parker writes in an easy, straightforward style. There is a lot of humor in his dialogue, which was enjoyable. I like the way he tells the story without adding unnecessary details. He creates several very likeable characters, who are a bit jaded by life, but still care enough to keep trying. The setting and the situation are mostly realistic. There are no super heroes or supernatural powers. That would be completely out of place in Parker's novels.
Paradise reminded me of my own hometown in Massachusetts, although it could be anywhere in the U.S. There are a whole host of local characters, and of course the usual suspects. As another reviewer noted, the crimes seem to be mostly sexual in nature, and the people in this town talk a lot about sex. Nevertheless, as a movie this could probably get a PG-13 rating, if certain elements were described rather than shown. The book is written from a male perspective, and I suspect that men will enjoy this more than women, although there are strong male and female characters. It would be a good choice for an airplane ride, or a vacation escape. I recommend it.
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